Election Commission Issues Stern Notice to Congress Chief Kharge Over 'Terrorist' Remark Against PM Modi

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission (EC) on Wednesday took a serious note of Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "terrorist", issuing a stern notice to him. The poll body has asked Kharge to explain his stand within 24 hours.

Kharge on Tuesday referred to PM Modi as a "terrorist" and later issued a clarification, in remarks expected to trigger political controversy during the ongoing election season.

Kharge made the statement in Chennai at a press conference on the final day of campaigning for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, scheduled for Thursday. He was criticising the opposition AIADMK over its alliance with PM Modi's BJP.

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"How can they (AIADMK) join with Modi? He is a terrorist. And he doesn't believe in equality. His party won't believe in equality and justice. And these people are joining with them, it means that they are weakening democracy, they are weakening the philosophy of Annadurai, Kamaraj, Periyar, Kalaignar, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar," he said.

When questioned on the context of his remarks, the Congress chief said he meant that the prime minister always "threatens" and pointed to the alleged "misuse" of agencies by the BJP-led central government.

"I want to clarify that Modi always threatens. The institutions like ED, I-T and CBI are in his hands. Therefore I say, in that context, I say he is terrorising people and political parties," the veteran politician stated.

Later, the BJP urged EC to initiate "suitable penal action" against Kharge, arguing that the remark was among the "gravest possible imputations in public life".

"This is not just derogatory, it is a dangerous and unprecedented attack on democratic institutions and a blatant violation of the MCC. Immediate action is non-negotiable," BJP said in its complaint.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju and other functionaries asked EC to consider registering an FIR against Kharge for making a "false and defamatory statement" and violating the poll code.